Storing Rice and Flour

... and other dry goods

Mylar bags inside plastic (lidded) bins

A visitor to our site asked: "I'm interested in storing rice and flour...and dry beans.

Can you store these dry goods? And—if so—how?"

My short answer: "Yes."

Now for the longer answer of "how to"!

In the photo above, you'll see I've got flour stored in Mylar bags, and then I put them in the large plastic-lidded bins when I need to store these items for the long term.

Even though the flour, rice, and beans are "dry" to begin with, if you're interested in storing these items safely, then follow the vacuuming-sealing method used when storing your dehydrated foods.

We're all about protecting our foods from the three enemies:

  • Light
  • Air
  • Moisture

I still strongly advise you to add an oxygen absorber into the individual vacuum-sealer bags before vacuum-sealing the air out, as they keep mold growth at bay.

Adding the oxygen absorber will also protect your flour and rice from insect damage, too.

TOP Frequently Asked Questions:

What's the best way for storing rice and flour?

As shown on this page, you'll read that I simply vacuum-seal packages of flour with an added 100cc oxygen absorber tucked in before drawing out the air.

Where to store flour?

It's important to store flour properly (for long-term) as we don't want those little bugs to appear!

The best places to store flour aside from in vacuum-sealed bags are:

Freezer

  • Keeps flour fresh for up to 1 year
  • Prevents growth of bacteria and pests
  • Store in air-tight containers or freezer bags

Pantry

  • Store in a cool, dark place in containers with tight lids
  • Use food-grade plastic bins or glass/ceramic canisters
  • Optimal temperature is under 75°F

Fridge

  • Keeps flour fresh for up to 6 months
  • Cold temps prevent spoilage
  • Note that letting flour come to room temp before baking improves results

Oxygen absorbers

  • Add an oxygen absorber before sealing storage container
  • Helps remove moisture and inhibits bugs/larvae

Wherever you store, keep bags folded down and containers sealed tight. Store away from heat, light and humidity which can cause flour to deteriorate faster. Use clean utensils to scoop and don't introduced moisture with dirty hands. First-in, first-out for best results!

100cc Oxygen Absorbers, 100-pk shown

Use an Oxygen Absorber in Jars, Bags, and Buckets

Coming up are the different sizes of oxygen absorbers!

Oxygen absorber sizes range in sizes from 50cc, 100cc, 300cc to a whopping 2000cc!

Why is there such a size range? When using smaller Mason jars, a 50cc oxygen absorber is ideal. For a larger quart-size Mason jar, then a 100cc size will be fine.

Oxygen Absorbers at Amazon

PackFreshUSA: 200 Pack - 50cc Oxygen Absorber Packs - Food Grade - Non-Toxic - Food Preservation - Long-Term Food Storage Guide Included
PackFreshUSA: 200 Pack - 50cc Oxygen Absorber Packs - Food Grade - Non-Toxic - Food Preservation - Long-Term Food Storage Guide Included

50cc Oxygen Absorbers

  • PackFreshUSA Oxygen Absorbers
  • 200-Pack
  • Food-Grade, Non-Toxic
Oxy-Sorb 100cc Oxygen Absorber Packets, 100 Pack - Long Term Food Storage Freshness Protection13%
Oxy-Sorb 100cc Oxygen Absorber Packets, 100 Pack - Long Term Food Storage Freshness Protection
$14.99 ($0.15 / Count)

100cc Oxygen Absorbers

  • Oxy-Sorb Oxygen Absorbers
  • 100-Pack
  • Long-Term Food Storage Freshness Protection
Oxy-Sorb 60-300cc Oxygen Absorbers for Long Term Food Storage (Bags of 20), ‎300CC-S20-3PK Blue
Oxy-Sorb 60-300cc Oxygen Absorbers for Long Term Food Storage (Bags of 20), ‎300CC-S20-3PK Blue

300cc Oxygen Absorbers

  • Oxy-Sorb Oxygen Absorbers
  • Bags of 20 (60 Count total)
  • Super Effective for Dried Goods
2000cc Oxygen Absorber - Pack of 10
2000cc Oxygen Absorber - Pack of 10

2000cc Oxygen Absorbers

  • Oxy-Sorb Oxygen Absorbers
  • Pack of 10
  • I use these for airtight bins and buckets

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases with no price increase to you. Read disclosure here.



Store for Medium-Term Usage in Mason Jars

If you live in a humid area and are thinking of storing rice and flour to keep the dry goods dry, then try using Mason jars for rice and flour canisters for, yes, flour.

These are ideal for those who use rice on a weekly basis.

Mason jars are too small for flour, Of course, you can use flour canisters or bins which are available at specialty kitchen goods stores.

You can add an oxygen absorber in the Mason jar along with the rice - the primary job of an oxygen absorber "is" to absorb oxygen, as the name implies.

I wouldn't bother adding an oxygen absorber into the big flour bins IF you are in and out of the flour bin on a regular basis.

IF you're not in the flour bin more than once or twice a month, then by all means pop in a massive 2000cc oxygen absorber and put the lid on it. Doing so will help keep moisture and bugs at bay.

Storing Rice and Flour in Bins and Buckets

Plastic Lidded storage bins. Good for storing dry goods.

This is one of the bins I showed at the top of the page, with its lid. Its purpose is to store vacuum-packed and sealed Mylar bags that contain our dehydrated foods - not massive bins full of loose dehydrated foods!

These bins ARE NOT airtight due to their handles, so don't bother using an oxygen absorber in one.

You can get these plastic-lidded bins at Walmart, Home Depot, or Lowe's or—yes, you guessed it—from Amazon online. Amazon has everything. You knew that.

Storing Rice and Flour in Air-tight Buckets
Suitable for Storing Salt and Sugar Too

Storing Rice and Flour
in Air-tight Buckets -
Suitable for Storing
Salt and Sugar Too

5-gallon, #2 plastic food-grade feed buckets with lids

If you're looking for air-tight storage, use feed buckets with lids.

Use 2000cc oxygen absorbers in buckets; they're perfect for this as they really ARE air-tight.

Check out these buckets at a 'Tractor Supply' website.

We also have a similar post that mentions how to store salt and sugar.

Visit Storing Dehydrated Food and Storing Dry Goods such as salt, and sugar.

Where to Store Bins and Buckets?

Great question! Look, I know it's hard to find space in closets, but they are ideal. Why? They are dark (so that keeps direct light off your dry goods. Both the bins and buckets are great for stacking, too.

Check out this "how to create storage out of thin air" post where I go into detail on how to add storage on a blank wall - if you've run out of closets.

Don't Make Your Stack Top Heavy!

Put the heavier goods at the bottom of the pile so they're not "top heavy." They hurt when they fall on you. Ask me know I know. Ouch.

You can safely stack around 5 plastic-lidded bins and about 4 buckets in a tower. I could only manage 4 buckets because I'm only a tad over five feet tall and it's too hard for me to reach them!

Again, keep the heavier buckets on the bottom.

These bins and buckets really don't take up too much room in the closet. I look at it this way: you can eat dehydrated food and beans, but you can't eat clothes.

Other folks like to store their bins and buckets filled with dehydrated goodies in their garage, but please beware of extreme heat and extreme cool temperatures.

Thanks for stopping by to read about storing rice and flour... and other dry goods!